Box making machine



July 11, 1933.

BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 51, 1951 s Sheets-Sheei 1' R D 5 a v gwwnfo'ns L 222 G. 12000. Ja /"2 1 Lane. Joi272 J. From.

L. c. ROOD ET AL 1,918,214

July 11, 1933. 1 ROQD AL 1,918,214

BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 51, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 amnion? L ran 6'. Road 07a); 15' Z ail/e John JFPQYZ.

July 11, 1933. c. ROOD El AL BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m f E 1 2 6 3 6 4 %.U a J 12 J4 H w o m 1 W w i fl y M 4 gvwemtozs 6'. R000. 21 FT Lane Jo/m J 1 7 052 Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATZES rare NT oFF cE LYNN C. HOOD, JOHN F. LANE, AND JOHNJ. FROS L'OEST. PAUL, -MINNESOTA,-ASSIGNORS T0 CHAR-LES NVEINHAGEN 8cCOM-PANY, OF 'ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA,,A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA 80K MAKING MACHINE Application filed .October 31, 1931.' Serial No. 572,364.

for the manufacture ofheart-shaped boxes.

In order *to attain this object, there is provided, in accordance witlrone feature of the invention, a traveling die, having Einstrumentalities embodied therein to receive and shape a box wall and having means ar ranged at suitable points in the pa'thof travel of said die, to .adhesively attach a bottom member to said Wall and to hold said bottom member under pressure against a flanged edge portion of said wall until the adhesive has set, and finally eject the completed box from said die and prepare the die for the =reception .of a successive box wall.

These and other features of the invent-ion will be more' fully set fort-11in the following d escriptiomand the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view :inrsiderelevation 'of ;a mechanism embodying the present :invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are plan viewson an enlarged scale of *the left and might halves, respectively, of the -mechanism shown in Fi euro 1.

Figure-skis an enlarged sectional view-on the line 4 4.of Figure 3.

I igure .5 :is a still further enlarged sectional view of a slidably unounted and vertically movable wall flanging die and associated mechanism, showing-the parts in normal position in solid lines and in operated position in dotted lines.

Figure-6 is a plan-view ofthe portion of the IDGGhfl'IllSIH shown in Figure 5.

Figure? is anenlarged View ofwa detail showing'ofa flanged boxcover holding arm. Figure 8 is an enlarged plan view of a forming die shown open 'in-solid lines and closed in dotted lines.

Figure 9 is an enlarged View of the face of'aportionof a "presser belt witha die p0- sitioning bar secured thereto transversely t l1ereof,and acover embossing member secured to the belt face.

Figure =10 is a sectional View 'on the line 1010'of-Figure 9.

Figure 11 isa sectional view on the line -111 1 of fFigureS. I

Figure 12 is a bottom view of the right handend-of the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 13 is'a view in side elevation of a knockoutoperating cam with a die in the position it occupies just before engaging said cam; and

Figures 1st and 15 are sectional views of edge portions of a box and cover, respectively, of a type of box fabricated by the present mechanism.

Re'ferring to the drawings in detail a frame A comprises legs 1 connected at their upper ends to angle 'iron side frame members 2. Shaft hangers f3 and 4 are mounted belowthe frame members 2't0 support-shafts 5 and G for rotation therein. Mounted-on each of the shafts 5 and 6, are a pair of sprocket wheels 7 spaced apart to receive llll-k blts 8 and 9. 'The sprockets mounted on the-shaft 5 are keyed thereto, so as to be driven thereby, while the sprockets on the shaft "6 may turn freely thereon. The sprockets are :mounted so as to have their tops flush with the top frame members-2.

Angle ironframe members 10- are mounted below the upper frame members i and in line with'the lower sides-of the sprockets 7-on v Q each side, so asto support the lower runs of thechains 8 and'9,-and formingdies Bearried thereby.

An electric drivemotor ll (see Figure 1 is mounted ona support "member 512 connectedto the frame and is arranged to drivea til pulley 13 by means of a belt 14. This pulley is mounted on the same shaft with a pulley 15, which in turn drives a pulley 16 by means of a belt 17.

An operating handle 18 is pivotally mounted on the front side of the frame and carries an idler pulley 19 to engage the belt 17. A toothed segment 20 is mounted concentrically with the pivotal support of the operating lever, and a pawl 21 connected to a hand grip member 22 holds the operating lever 18 in adjusted position. Moving the lever 18 to the left to the position shown in Figure 1, moves the idler pulley 19 upward to tighten the belt into driving engagement with the pulleys, which it encircles, while moving the lever 18 to the right, loosens the belt and releases it from driving engagement with its pulleys. Intermediate speed reducing sprockets and chains are connected between the pulley 16 and the shaft 5 to drive the shaft 5 and the sprockets 3 and chains 8 and 9 thereby.

Shaft hangers 23 are mounted above the left end portion of the frame, as shown in Figure 1, and in these hangers are rotatably mounted shafts which support sprockets 24, around which are mounted chains 25. A belt 26, which may be of leather, is a-fiixed between the inner edges of the chains 25, so that the chains 25 form marginal edges of the belt. A presser roll frame 27 is mounted above the lower run of the belt and spring adjusting screws 28 are mounted to control the pressure on said frame. The presser roll frame is of a type well known to the art, comprising rollers 29 mounted to rotate freely between sides of the presser frame 27, and it will, therefore, be unnecessary to burden the present specification with a detailed description of it. v

A plurality of forming dies B are carried by the chains 8 and 9, and for the following detailed description thereof, particular reference is made to Figures 8, l1, and 12.

A base plate 30 is provided with a pair of threaded openings in the bottom thereof in which bolts 31 are screwed to secure special links 32 and 33, provided therefor in the chains 8 and 9, respectively, to said plate. Secured, one adjacent each of the front and rear edges of the upper surface of the base plate 30, a pair of parallel, undercut guides 34 and 35. Slidably mounted between these guides are a pair of forming die members 36 and 37.

Each of these members is provided with flanges 38 and 39 adapted to ride in the undercut portions of the guide members 34 and to permit slidable movement of said die members therein. Each die member is provided with a pair of downwardiy projecting studs 40 which extend through slotted openings 41 provided therefor in the base plate 30. Mounted on the lower ends of the studs 40 of each die member is a bar 42. Pivotally mounted on the center of the bottom of each of the bars 42 is a roller 43 which engages cam tracks mounted between the chains 8 and 9 and which will later be described in detail to open and close the dies at the proper points in their travel.

A central forming die 44 of the size and shape of the interior of the boxes to be made on the mechanism, is affixed to the upper surface of the base plate 30 centrally of the opening in the slidably mounted dies 36 and 37, when said dies are in their closed position, as indicated in dotted lines in F igure 8. The clearance between the inner die 44 and the outer dies 36 and 37, when closed, should be about the thickness of the cardboard to be used in making the boxes which the machine is designed to fabricate.

A knockout pin 45 is slidably mounted in a hole drilled centrally of the central forming die 44 and extending through the base plate 30. The knockout pin 45 is provided with an enlarged head portion 46 which normally rests in a recess provided therefor in the top of the central forming die, to lie flush with the upper surface thereof. .Tension coil springs 47 and 48are mounted between the side portions of the slidable outer die members 36 and 37 to resiliently draw them to gether.

Mounted, one on the outer end of each of the outer or movable die members 36 and 37, are cover positioning fingers 49 and 50 to hold a flanged cover blank in position therebetween. These positioning fingers are preferably formed of spring brass and are each secured to spring steel strips 51 and 52, respectively; One end of each of the spring steel strips 51 and 52 is secured tightly to the outer end of the die upon which it is mounted, while the other end thereof is pro- 'vided with a slotted opening 53 which is secured to the die member by a screw 54 to permit relative longitudinal movement of this end of the strip with respect to the sore 54. A coil compression spring is mounted beneath the center of each of the strips 51 and 52 to normally arch said strips upwardly. This construction permits the spring strips to flatten out under the pressure to which they are subjected, while passing beneath the presser rolls.

The cam tracks which engage the rollers 3 to open and close the movable dies are in two pairs. One pair 56 and 57 are the die openings tracks, and the pair 58 and 59 are the die closing tracks. The die opening tracks 56 and 57 are mounted. on 'cross brace members 60 secured transversely of the frame. These tracks are shaped and mounted to lie parallel with the plane of the chains 8 and 9, the tracks being curved around the right hand end of the frame as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 12 to conform ageregam bot; carried on the fixed central die mem-' ber id.

A knockout cam 63 is mounted between the die opening portions and 83 toengage the lower end of the knockout pind and force it in, thereby forcin the conn plcted boxcarried on the central form is off of said form. This action talres place after the opening of themovable dies36and37.

The die clo 3 tracks JSand 59 "e positioncd in parallel spaced relation along-the top of the fran' at a height to engage the die operating rollers 43. It will be noted Figures '12 and 3 that the lie closing 5S eurve:-; inwardly at 64: ahead of the point, in the travel of the die at which the other die closing track 59 curves inwardly at 65. This-Closes the'die 36 over the-convex end of the stationary central die prior to the closing of thedie 3'? over the indented end ofthe stationary die.

The closing traci-ls 58 and '59 preferably terminate just beyond the presser rolls :29, as shown in Figure'EZ, since from this po nt on the tension of the springs 47 and 4L8 iicient to hold the movabledies closed .to hold the box in position in the die.

A crimping and glue spreading mechanism is mounted above the frame A and :is shown generally in Figures .1 and 3, and in detailin Figures 4i, 5, and 6. p

This mechanism is for crimping inwardly the upper of the box wall asshown at 66 in Fignreslet and 15, and applying paste to theciposed face ofsaid tlange andia so to the-exposed face of .a heart-shaped cardboard blanh'GT, shownin Figures Island 15, respectively.

The wall crimping mechanism comprises two sine frame members 68 and 69., and transverse .frame members .70 and 71. The pair of parallel, longitudinall disposed rods 72 and T3 are mounted between iii-he.

ransverse frame members 70 and 7], and upon these =rods =are slidably mountecha vpair of transversely positioned carriage supports 72 and 73%. which support a crimping die carriage generally referred to as C. Four posts "[4: are slidably mounted in vertical )peiiings, two in each of the supports 72? ind 73 the lower ends 'of said posts being rigidly'securedrto a crimping die base plate and =78. Goil :springs 79 and 80 (see :1 igure :6) are connected from the transverse frame member 71 to angle iron side members 81 and '8 connected to the endsof the transverse support members 72 and 73. These springs normally hold the carriage C rearwardly against a pair of shock absorbing springs '83 and '84, which encircle the rods 172 and 73, respectively.

Pi-votally mounted below the angle iron side members '81 and 82 are lever arms 85 and 86. These lever arms-are bent outward- 1y at their r ar ends as at '87 and 88 (see Figure 6) and downwardlyat their forward cndsas at "89 (see Figures tand 5').

The outwardlybent rear ends '87 and 88 are mounted to be in horizontal alinement with arms 90 and 91 secured to the stationary side frame members GS and 69, respectively, so that when the-carriage moves forwardly to bringthe outwardlybent end portions 87 and -88 of the lever arms 85 and 86 into engagement with the :arms 90 and 91, the rear ends of the lever arms will 'be forced inwardly thereby, causing'the downwardly bent forwardends of the lever arms to separate. t

The downwardly bent forwardends of'the lever arms '85 =a11d 86 are positioned :to engage :t-he forward side of a forming die 13, 9

as the formin die passes thereunder, and thereby move the carriage '0 along "Wlllll the forming die unti the lever arms are actuat ed by the stationary arms 90 and 91 to sepaate the downwardly bent forward ends of the love 1' arms 85 and '86 to :releas e them from engagement with the forming die, whereupon the springs 79 and 80 restore the carr-iageCto thesolid line position of Figure 5.

A crimping die :92 (see Figure 5) is seenredto the lower face'of the plate 175 and is formed with a heart shaped:recess therein of size and shape to conform :to that of the wall-of the box being formed when said wall is gripped in the forming die.

.ibcam block '93 is mounted-on :the Plate 75 that when the carriage .C :is in its forward position as indicated in dotted lines in "Figure 5, :said eam block will be vpositioned directly below a rotating oam 94 fiX- edly mounted onashaft 9'5 above the frame A. The shaft 95 is driven by :a chain 96 which connected to'the driving mechanism and istimed so that the canrS l will be robottom dead center. The cam block 93 will be drawn back with the carriage C upon which it is mounted by means. of the coil springs 79 and 80 and will exert a rotative force on the cam 94 in the direction of the arrow in Figure 4. If rigid drive means were employed, this would retain the carriage C momentarily in the position indicated by the dotted line in Figure 5. Howver, by means of the slack in the drive chain 96, a limited movement of the cam 94 in the direction of the arrow is permitted and the carriage C is free to slide back to the solid line position shown in Figure 5.

The crimping die 92 is positioned on the plate 7 5 so that when the downwardly bent forward ends 89 of the lever arms are engaged by the forward edge of the forming die, the crimping die will lie directly above and in register with the upper edges of the box wall carried therein, and, as the carriage C is carried forward by the engagement of these downwardly turned ends of the levers, the carriage will remain in this relative position until, released by the spreading of the levers. As the cam block 93 comes beneath the cam 95, the cam 95 engages the cam block as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5, and forces the plate 75 and with it the crimping die 92 downwardly to the dotted line position. The crimping die crimps the upper edges of the box walls inwardly, as shown at 66 in Figures 14 and 15. i

As the strip of cardboard forming the box wall is inserted in the forming die, a heart-shaped piece of cardboard is inserted within the wall to lie on top of the stationary inner die 44. Thus, when the upper edges of the walls are crimped down they are crimped over the edge of this heart shaped cardboard member.

The gluing mechanism shown in plan view in Figure 3 and sectionally in Figure 4, comprises a glue trough 100 mounted between the side frame members 68 and 69, with a roller 101 pivotally mounted transversely of said glue trough and positioned so that the lower portion of this roller is partially immersed in glue contained in said glue trough in a liquid form.

A spreading roller 102 is pivotally mounted adjacent the glue roller 101 so that as the glue is carried up from the trough 100 it will pass between the spreading roller and the glue roller 101. The spreading roller is mounted in movable blocks 103 and adjusting screws 104 arethreadedly mounted in brackets 105 to adjust the pressure on the spreading roller 102. By screwing these adjusting screws in, pressure on the spreading roller against the glue roller will be increased, thereby decreasing the amount of glue which is carried around by the glue roller. By decreasing the pressure on this spreading roller, the amount of glue carried around by the glue roller may be increased. The glue roller is in peripheral engagement with a roller 106 positioned to engage a side thereof, and this roller is in turn in peripheral engagement with a roller 106 which is positioned vertically beneath said roller. This second roller carries the glue down to. where it engages the upper surface of the inwardly turned flanges of the box walls and the heart-shaped blank 67 which is gripped beneath said inwardly turned wall edge portions and spreads a layer of glue over these members.

The belt 26 which passes beneath the presser rolls 29 is provided with cross strips 111, as shown in Figures 2, 9, and 10. These cross strips engage the forward edges of the forming dies as they pass beneath the belt 26 and serve to advance the belt 26 at the same speed as the forming dies are traveling. The forming dies are disposed in alternate rotation with first a box forming die and then a cover forming die. The box portions and the cover portions are substantially identical, except that the cover portion is of a slightly larger diameter so as to telescopically fit over the box portion and the cover portion is preferably crowned, as shown in Figure 15.

In order to produce this crowning effect the cover die is preferably upset slightly in its central portion, as shown at 108 in igure 15, and a cut-out member 109, which may be of leather, is adhesively secured to the belt 26 with a heart-shaped cut-out portion 110 centrally thereof. The cut-out portion 110 is of a size to engage only the edge portions of the box cover. This causes an embossing or crowning effect, as shown at 108 in Figure 15. As the forming die passes beneath the belt 26 which is held downwardly into pressing engagement with the box by means of the pressing rolls 29, the parts of the box being formed are held into closely compressed condition long enough for the glue to initially set.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows, and this portion of the description may best be followed by referring principally to Figure 1 As a forming die B passes upwardly around the right hand end of the mechanism, the movable forming dies will be held in the open position, as shown in Figure 8, by means of the cam tracks 56 and 57. At this point of the forming dies travel, the operator inserts a preformed circular strip of cardboard over the stationary central die member 44, this strip of cardboard being of a width slightly higher than that of the stationary die member, and having a circumference equal to that of the periphery of the heart-shaped die member 44. At the same time the operator also inserts the upper edge of the box wall to overlie heart-shaped sheet 67 of cardboard of the same size and shape as the top surface of the stationary die member 44:. 7

As the die closing roller 48 engages the curved portion 6 L of the closing cam track the die member 36 is moved inwardly to for the strip'of cardboard into conformity with the convex poi ted end of the die 14. is the other cam operating roller 43- passes the inwardly bent portion 65' of the cam track 59, the strip of cardboard which is to form the box wall, is pressed into coniornn ity with the indented end the stationary die is, thereby bringingthe box wall into complete peripheral engagement with the heartshaped cardboard sheet 67 placed on i the stationary die 14, aspreviously iibed. The die travels forward with L we parts in this position until the forward o toe forming die engages the downrdly bent portions 89' of the lever arms ed by the die supporting carriage C. forming die B moves the carriage C wardly beneath the cam 94. The cam 94 otated by its operative mechanism to enthe cam block 93 and depress the ping die 92 to the dotted line position of re thereby crimping inwardly the the :oarcl 6. as indicated in Figures 14 and is the carriage C reaches its extreme orv.'a:-'d position, the downwardly bent in L113 re position, as shown in Figure 5, by neans of the coil springs 79 and 80, as shown in Figure 6. r

The fanning die then passes beneatl the e exposed faces of the crinipcd s 66 and the cardboard blank lhftbi the forming die, with the box i and blank 67 pass beyond the glue the operator places in posi 1 ion a )oitoni member 112 which is guided oer position y the fingers 19 and awn in Figures 8 and 11. The farm die hon passes beneath the belt 26, the 1" rward edge the forming die engagthe cross strip 111. The belt, in conjunction h the presser rolls 29, guesses the hing bottom member 112 downwardly the coil springs 47 and 48 (see Figure 8) the i holding the movable dies 36. and 37: in en gagement wltn the: box a wall sufficiently to hold'the box in.- position upon. thestationary center die member 44'; The box is then carried along the lowerruii of the chains 8 and 9, traveling to the right, as indicated in lz iguro l, ntil= it reaches the die opening tracks 56 and 57' (see Figure 12) whereupon the movable dies 36 and 37' areispread apart and theknock-out' pinv 451s engaged by the cam '63 to force th knock-out pin (see Fig uuof) downwardly, thereby stripping the i 1 from the contralforming die. 1

lhe empty forming die then passes upwardly around the rigl'it hand end of the K shine, as shown in Figure 1, with the namingdies open and ready to receive another wall blank and cardboard l lank 'lhe same Y cd-u e is followed fior bi. boxes and the covers with the exception, as hereinbefore poi nted out, that the crowning of thebox coveri's accomplished-by the cutout forms on the belt.

lnasmuch as this general type of box is well known to the art, it has been believed to be unnecessary to show the box structure more tully than is illustrated in Figures l l and 15.

lVe claim: I

1. A box-making machine, comprising, in combination. a traveling conveyor, box wail (lies carried by said conveyor and 0 receive a box wall member therein, cam means mounted to operate said dies "to perform a forming operation on a box wall contained therein, wall Hanging device co-operatively assoclated with said dies to form a flange on a box wall formed n said (lies, adhesive spreadin mechanism" mounted to spread a layeror adhesive or a flanged box wall to adapt said flange to adhesively receive a top, and presser means adapted to engage a top positioned on said flange and exert pressure thereon.

2. A box making machine, comprising a conveyor, drive means adapted to impart a co: inuous motion thereto, box wall forming dies mounted thereon and adapted to receivo a box wall band therein, die operating means mounted to operatively engage said dies during movement thereof to :torm said box mud in conformity with said dies, means mounted engage said box wall to bend an edge portion thereof to receive a box bottom member, and presser mean mounted beyond said wall bending means to press a box bottom member into engagement with said bent wall edge portion.

3. In a box making machine, a movable conveyor, means mounted to continuously drive said conveyor in a recurring cycle, box

- wall forming dies carried by said conveyor,

said wall band into conformity with said dies, wall flanging means co-operatively associated with said dies to bend a flange on a box wall carried by said dies at a predetermined point of travel thereof to adapt said wall to be adhesively secured to a top, and presser means mounted beyond said flanging means to exert a pressure on a top mounted on said flange.

4. In a box making mechanism, a movable conveyor, drive means connected thereto to continuously d"ive said conveyor in recurring cycles, a central forming die mounted on said conveyor, a pair of slidable dies mounted laterally adjacent said conveyor and adapted to receive a box wall band be tween said central die and said movable dies, and cam tracks mounted adjacent said conveyor and adapted to operatively engage said movable dies to force a box band into conformity with said central die.

5. A box making machine of the character described comprising a movable forming die adapted to receive a box wall band therein, drive means mounted to move said die continuously in a recurring cycle, a flanging die mounted to engage a box wall carried in said forming die at a predetermined point in the cycle of movement thereof to form a flange on an edge thereof to receive a top thereon, and presser means mounted to engage a top placed on said flanged portion to press said top into close engagement with said flange.

6. In a box making mechanism, the combination with a driven conveyor, having box wall forming dies thereon and adapted to receive and form a box wall, of means for gluing a top on a box wall held in said forming die, and a presser belt mounted above said die and having positioning means adapted to be engaged by said die to position said die in a predetermined position with respect to said belt and to move said belt in unison therewith.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

LYNN C. ROOD. JOHN F. LANE. JOHN J. FROST. 

